Snyder medium aims to help others
by ANDREA KIMBRIEL Reporter

Betsy Marie displays some of the notebooks containing her writing and illustrations that she uses when meeting with clients. Photo by John Rusac

People often come to Betsy Marie after they have experienced a tragedy.

The Snyder resident, who goes by her first and middle names, is a professional medium. She said her motivation is to help people.

"The purpose of a medium is to strengthen, encourage and love all who are in our hands," she said. When she does a reading for someone, they usually cry and hug her.

Betsy Marie meets clients at places of their choice. She said those who come to her are often remorseful, and the spirits she communicates with are as well.

"People often die with a lot of regrets. The first thing they want to do is apologize to people," she said. "I'm told the stories of what they wanted to do with their lives. I'm able to tell the story for them. I'm their voice."

Betsy Marie, who has two children, said her work is about helping people love more. She wants to promote unity between those with different religious views.

"People are hesitant to go to mediums because they are afraid they'll be told something awful - but that's not what it's about," she said.

She calls her business Our Miss Betsy Marie. She has also started a spiritual healing ministry, Faith Ministries, and a foundation called Betsy Marie Foundation, which also fall under the umbrella of Our Miss Betsy Marie.

Her plan for the foundation is to develop an art program for girls who have "suffered from words." Words are key, she said. Negative words, such as "You're no good," can do damage, and art can provide healing.

She plans to use proceeds from the art program to support organizations such as Haven House and Cornerstone Manor that benefit women and children.

Betsy Marie is an artist who builds furniture and creates other pieces with items she "garbage picks" and paints. She said all her art has a message.

She said she has always had the ability to be a medium and described sensing the energy of spirits as a child on a family visit to Gettysburg.

She does automatic writing to express the thoughts of spirits she channels, she said. She compared the feeling of channeling to the sensation of fluids entering one's body intravenously.

Being a medium can be lonely when people do not understand, but Betsy Marie enjoys what she describes as her calling.

"I love it - I love doing this. I eat and breathe this stuff," she said.

For information about Our Miss Betsy Marie, call 225-9796.